“WLS ABC Channel 7 should follow the example set by WFLD Fox Channel 32, which during the gubernatorial race hosted a truly inclusive debate, including all six candidates,” said Christina Tobin, Founder and Chair of the Free and Equal Elections Foundation.

Free & Equal also criticized WTTW Channel 11, which is facing a half-million dollar lawsuit as a result of holding a similar non-inclusive gubernatorial debate in 2010. Rich Whitney, candidate for governor, and LeAlan Jones, candidate for US Senator, were excluded from debates broadcast by WTTW last fall, after repeated requests for inclusion were denied.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting funds and oversees the programming at WTTW and is a defendant, along with Daniel Schmidt, WTTW’s CEO. The lawsuit alleges that by selecting certain candidates and giving them free air time, they were engaged in partisan political activity, in violation of the IRS tax code and FCC regulations.

“As a licensed broadcaster, WLS has an obligation to operate in the public interest. They abrogate this responsibility by limiting the debate to exclude ballot qualified candidates,” said Tobin.

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Free & Equal is a nonpartisan, non-profit public-policy advocacy organization dedicated to election reform and improving ballot access laws in the United States.

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